Moving-pocket game apparatus



Dec. 1,1925. 1.563.983

M. HIGUCHI IOVING POCKET GANE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 1 iNvENToR BY ATTORNEY y E Dec. l 1925.

- M. HlGUCHl HOVING POCKET GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1l 1925.

M. HIGUCHI MOVING POCKET GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 3 Shets-Sheet15 INVENTOR ATToRNEY S S CAS Patented l, 1925.

UNITED Sra'rss MONNOSUKE HIGUCHI, F COLLEGE FOINT, NEVI YORK.

MOVING-POCKET GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed November 4, 1922.

.To LU whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, MoNNosUiir. Ilioiioni, a subject of the Emperor ofJapan, residing at College Point, county of Queens, and State of NewYork, have made a certain new and useful Invention in a Moving- `PocketGame Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to amusement and recreation apparatus, wherein asystem of (3o-ordinating elements co-operate to automatically release aball, or several balls in successsion, to be put into play, and toaiitomatically record a score made by a player who puts the balls intoplay. A further object includes the provision of mechanism forconstantly modifying the probable results of any particular play,including a multiple-pocket constantly-moving device and a system ofcircuits, relays and operating devices for effecting the operating andrecording mechanism.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, and I attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is aview partly in section, showing one form of ball tossing mechanism inrelation to the moving pocket;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the ball Ii'noving pocket and cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a view, largely diagrammatic, of the operating circuits andtally record ing parts;

Fig. l is a sectional view of the moving' pocket and correspondingcircuit closers;

I*l 5 is a plan view of the pocket moving vmotor and reciprocator;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the score tering mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view of the coupon registering mechanism;

Fig. S is a view of the score or coupon registering escapement;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of the releasing detent;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view of the ball operating circuit closer; and

Fig. Il is a view of 'the coin chute showing the circuit closingcontacts.

Like numerals refer to similar throughout the several views` Referringnow to the acconilmnying drawing which is given by way of illustrap a l's Serial No. 598,980.

tion rather than in a limiting sense, in a lixed cabinet l5, of anydesired shape and suitable size, a movable ball catching pocket element16, operating motor l?, ball projecting device or trajectory tray 18,ball retaining mechanism and sloping base l?. circuit closers 20, andassociated conta/cio s' are provided for the purpose to be more fullystated hereinafter.

Cabinet I5 is further provided with registering mechanism 2l, fortallying and recording the scores made by the players, and with a ballrebounding surface 22, and ball collecting slopes 23, a ball limitingand detaining mechanism 24C, and an initial solenoid 25, for releasingthe ball limiting mechanism, to permit a certain number of balls to beplayed under certain definite conditions, as, for example, when themechanism is used commercially and the balls are released for play by acoin in the manner stated below.

The movable pocket element 16 may assume any desired shape or size, andin my preferred form the same comprises a rectangular' member slopingtowards the player and having a suitable number of pockets 26, 27, 28,29 and 80. These pockets are of varying extent and are so arranged thatthe easiest and most accessible pocket is nearest the player. Thispocket is given the lowest score value. Each succeeding pocket is morediflicult, and is given a cor respondingly higher score value. The scorevalues are indicated by the registering mechanism 2l, on a score dial32, by pointer 33, or equivalent.

Each pocket is provided with an openin 26', 27, etc., through which theball pas when thrown, or tossed, into any corresponding pocket. Belowthe several openings there are provided the contactors 26, 2, etc., forputting into operation the ciri cuit closers 20, thereby recording` thescoresI of the discarding balls as they roll down the inclined basesupport 34, and tip the contactors for closing the circuits. From thisconstruction it is evident that balls from the lowest pocket will strikeonly one contactor, and, therefore, record only one score; those in thenext higher pocket will strike two contacter-s, and, therefore, recordtwo scores, and so on to the highest or last pocket from which the ballswill str rike all of the contactors and thus close all the circuitclosers for recording the proper scores in the manner stated.

i reciprocating n'iechanism 35, operated by motor 17, causes the pocketto move back and forth ivithin definite limits, thus putting the playersskill to a more se vere test.

The ball may be put into play by hand, or by the mechanism illustratedin Fig. l. It the ball projecting device 1S is used, thc saine may beputinto operation by an operating .lever This lever may be supported ona suitable stand or counter 3'?, and is connected to the projectionmember 18, by any suitable means as connections 3S, which may be unitedby lever arms 39. ik coin chute l0, having electric contacts Lll andil?, may be provided for putting the apparatus into play by insertion ofa coin 43.

rhe ball limiting and detaining mechanism Q-t, comprises a Wheel whichis provided with a number of radiating spokes or ball stops 44, and aWheel stop l5 ior abutting against the end of a stop lever 4G. rlhislever is mounted to swing on a pivot il?, and is controlled by thesolenoid 25. Normally, one ot the ball stops or spokes engages a detenton the detent lever 48. ln the ball limiting form illustrated, six; ballstops and one Wheel stop are provided, but obviously other numbers mightbe selected and adopted. Since but one Wheel stop is provided for anydesired number of ball stops, and a coin releases the Wheel stop, itfollows that vvith each release made as many balls may be played asthere are ball stops on the detaining mechanism between the vnl l stops,and when this number has been played, the ball limiting mechanism Willloch against 'further rotation until the solenoid lever is again movedaside by a coin or other means, to disengage the Wheel stop.

rlhe operation of my device may proceed as follows: Then a coin isdropped into chute tO, and the circuit closed at il and l2 by means ofcoin 43, current from a suit able source, as a battery 4:9, passesthrough conductor 50, solenoid 56, conductor 5l, contact 49, coinL13c0ntact el, conductor 52, to ground This energizes solenoid 556,Which pulls down the score stop lever 57, thus Vperinitting the scoreWheel bell cranl:

or detent 58 to tiltrback and disenga'ge thescore Wheel 59, which thenruns back to the O position and stops by reason of the detentengagingstop 3 locking against the detent projectionS. Vhen a coin thuscloses the coin circuit, solenoid is also energized and lever t6Jpulled. down by the core 25.V Thisnidisengages the wheel stop 25, andreleases the ball limiting rnechanism 24, which on account of the Weightof a inposition, rotates and permits the ball to descend into playingposition in the projection tray 1S. In the meantime detent lever t8descends and engages the next spoke or ball stop, thus holding the balllimiting mechanism against further rotation until a ball has beenplayed, or is in position to again release detent Li8 lior succeedingplays.

lllhcn the ball is in position on the projection tray, it may be putinto play by hand, it desired, or by the mechanism de scribed above. lnthe latter ase the player strikes l-:nob a suitable blow at the exactmoment to j'nojert the ball into one of the pocliets, :nul pretcrablyinto the upper or highest tallying ones. Il the ball is suc cesstullylanded into the upper pocket 30, it passes through opening tiltingcontaeter 30, and thereby closing contacts at 2O to complete circuit 50through solenoid GO, conductor 6l, through 80, 20 and to ground 62, thusenergizing solenoid and rocking score detent 58 to advance the scoreivheel one point. As the ball rolls donn the incline Sel, itsuccessively tilts contactors 29", 28, 2T, 26, and closes the respectivecontacts, thus advancing the score Wheel for each contact in the mannerstated above, and .vhich condition is indi 1ated on the score die 3Q.lli poclet 26 is hit, only one contact is made. For the interniediatepockets the correspondinecontacts are made and recorded and when theball passes be.- yond the movig pocket, it rolls doivn bai-'c l) Withoutiual'nng a score.

The score n'heel may be provided 'with any desired number ot scorecontact pins (Sil, ivhich may be arranged on said Wheel in an y desiredratio to that of the escapement teeth (5T. ln the accompanying drawing Ihave illustrated a ratio ot l to 2, but obviously other ratios may beadopted. Vln all cases, hon'ever, are the contact pins so located as toclose the coupon circuit (telA nt G-'l at the proper time. The couponsolo noid is thus enero" 'ed `for cach speciticd number of scorecoinacts made. lVhen now the predetermined score contacts have been madeto advance the contact pins successive ly into circuit closing position,current passes from b ttei'y 42S) through the coupon solenoid G5 in thecoupon circuit (il, througl'i the score stop lever 57, contact 5T',contact Gt, pins ('-f to ground (56, thus rocking the coupon detent .TOto advance the coupon wheel one point.

wheel will not be affected as solenoid b is not energized.

The operation ot the coupon wheel (28 similar to that ot the scorewheel, and the construction ot' these wheels identical, excepting thatbut one conta-co' pin G9 provided on the coupon Wheel. It nouY thecoupon wheel has admnced by reason ot' the solenoid G5 having, inresponse to tl e scores made, rocked the coupon detent the requirednumber ot times to rotate the u'l v-el into contacting position of pin'39 with contact Tl, he circuit through a bell armature TQ is completed,and the bell. begins to ring. rlhe ringing may begin 'when the couponwheel approaches or reaches its ni imuin rotation. Iush button 73 maynon' ne used to reset the coupon Wheel to xero, and to stop the bellfrom ringing, because when thc circuit is completed through the pushbutton or its equivalent, solenoid -lf is energized to depress lever 75,and thereby interrupt the bell circuit at 76. As lever T5 is depressed,the coupon detcnt roclzs bacl D-n-l permits the coupon Wheel to turn hao zero. Should contact be maintained between pin G9 and contact 7l,while the coupon Wheel is turning back, the bell Will not continue toring as soon as the bell circuit is intcrrulited by reason of lever 75being;` depressed or pulled down, by the core oit the solenoid Tl.

The recording; mechanism may be operated by any suitable ineens, as byiv.' TT and 7S, or equivalents, and thro proper mechanism not shown)engin-ji cogis 79. As this mechai'iisni forms no part ot'rm'rv inrenticmit is not herein shown or described in detail.

Having non described my invention, and disclosed a mode of itsapplication, what I clailn as ynew and useful, ot my ovfn invention. anddesire to scure by Letters t une apparatus tor playing ie score made,the combinaunits therein, ay ball tossinggj mechanism in id cabinet, andmeans for causing` the tossing mechanism to become ettectire to therebyplace a ball into play 'tor registering a score made by passing a ballthrough one ot said moving 'pocket units. .1. In a game apparatus forplaying); hall and registoring);A the score iliade. the wenn binationol: a cabinet haring` movii'ig portlet elements provided with open sidesand bot tom :tor influencing Ythe score value, a ball tossing device insind cabinet, means 'tor operating said ball device, and means recordingthe corresponding` score value.

i3. In a game apparatus for playing` ball and registering the scoremade, the combina tion of a moving pocket element, a bali controlmechanism, means for releasing said mechanism, means :tor playing saidbail through said moving pocket element to effect a predetermined score,and means tor recording said score.

'l. In a (5a ie apparatus, a cabinet harinf" an open race. a movingpocket element e3.:- posed through said e, means for reci procating saidpocket element, a ball retainer and means tor releasing a predeterminednumber of balls from said retainer.

In an amusement apparatus tor playing ball and rcgisteriiiaj a scoremade, a cabinet having vertical sides provided with slots the 'ein andan open tace, :i pocket element reciprocating` in said slots and exposedthrough said tace, pockets in said element, means :tor projecting aball, said means being` under control ot the player, tor striking;` oneof said pockets, and means associated with each of said pockets foreliiecting a score.

6. In an amusement apparatus for playing ball and registering a scoremade, a cabinet having vertical sides provided With slots therein and anopen tace, a sloping pocket element reciprocating in said slots andexposed through said tace, a plurality of falsebottom pockets arrangedside by side in said element, contractors associated with each pocket,said contractors being` arranged beneath corresponding pockets on anincline whereby one or more of said contractors are struck by the sameball passing down the incline from the poc-het through which the ballhas passed.

7. In an amusement apparatus for playing hall and registering a scoremade, a cabinet, a moving pocket element in said cabinet, said pocketelement having a plurality ot pockets, a motor element in said cabinetfor reciprocating said pocket element, a ball restraining mechanismadjacent said pocket element, an electric control device tor releasingsaid restrainin element, means 'tor projecting` said ball in thedirection oit thc moving pocket element, whereby, when said ball passesthrough a pocket, the score value ot said pocket will be indicated, andmeans Jfor indicating said score value.

S. In a ball playing apparatus, a moving pocket element comprising aplurality ot false-bottom pockets arranged to represent different scorevalues, a slopine base beneath said pockets, an electric cireu1t with acircuit closer :tor yach pocket projecting in the path ot the ball,means :tor putting a ball into play for passing through one of saidpockets, and closing one or more of said circuit closures in conformityWith the specilic pocket through which the ball passes and then rollsaway down the sloping base.

9. In an amusement game apparatus provided With ball driving mechanismand score registering mechanism, a cabinet and a 4. Menues.

pocket element therein, u bali operating' said moving pocket elementfoi' supplying mechanism in said cabinet, and :i nizunialijx a.pl'edetein'iined number of balls to be played manipulated member locatedoutside of said into said moving pocket element.

cabinet for projecting the ball Within the In testimony whereof I havehereunto cabinet. set myhztnd on this 2Std day ot' October 10. A movingpocket element and means t A. D., 1922.

for moving said element7 means adjacent MONNOSUKE HIGUCHI.

